Category Archives: British history

The Practice of Enclosure of Open Lands in England and Wales

Posted on July 31, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

 In England and Wales from the 12th Century forward enclosure (or inclosure) was a common practice. Before enclosure, much of the land was only used during the growing season. Once the harvest took place, the was at the disposal of … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, England, estates, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Living in the Regency, Regency era, Wales | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Celebrating the Release of “Two Earls to Love” With Two Excerpts and a Giveaway

Posted on July 21, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

The first of the “two earls” featured in this collection was released in the summer of 2022 as part of the Regency Summer Garden Anthology (which is only available in print format). Rose Vickers has been sent home by her … Continue reading →

Posted in aristocracy, book excerpts, book release, books, British history, eBooks, excerpt, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, heroines, historical fiction, Living in the Regency, publishing, reading, reading habits, Regency era, Regency romance, research, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Common Law of Dower or What Does the Wife Inherit During the Regency?

Posted on July 19, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

Originally there were varieties of dower (not to be confused with dowry) such as dower ad ostium ecclesiae (“at the church door”) and dower ex assensu patris (by the heir with his father’s consent), in which before the couple was married, the wife was endowed of particular pieces of the property – specific lands. In Medieval times more so than modern ones, sometimes land held in knight service was exonerated from dower by the widow’s taking dower de la pluis beale (“of the most fair”) of her husband’s socage land. Continue reading →

Posted in British history, estates, family, finance, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Inheritance, Living in the Regency, marriage customs, primogenture, real life tales, Regency era, research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Cheddar Man and Mr. Targett: Stone Age Connections

Posted on July 14, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

Okay, today, I am not talking about cheese, though the “gentleman” in question is associated with Cheddar, England, which is famous for its cheese. Cheddar is also famous for Cheddar Gorge and a line of limestone caves found there. Rather, … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, England, exploration, family, Great Britain, history, real life tales, science, world history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Dressmaking During the Regency

Posted on July 12, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

Often in a Regency book, we find a situation where the woman requires a new day dress, gown, riding habit, etc. I was reading a book of late where the modiste finished several gowns in two days, but was that … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, commerce, fashion, Georgian England, Living in the Regency, Regency era | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Negotiating Marriage Settlements During the Regency Era

Posted on July 5, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

We have all likely read the part in a Regency romance where marriage settlements were discussed, but how did those come about?  “A marriage settlement in England was a historic arrangement whereby, most commonly and in its simplest form, a trust of land … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, Georgian, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Living in the Regency, marriage, marriage customs, primogenture | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Negotiating Marriage Settlements During the Regency Era

Happy 13th Book Birthday to “The Phantom of Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery”

Posted on July 3, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

On July 1, 2010, Ulysses Press released The Phantom of Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery. It was the first of my cozy mysteries, and it remains a favorite. In 2019, I received the rights to all my Ulysses Press titles back from the company. I have periodically been rereleasing them with new covers and to new readers.

I would love to share something of the historical tidbit that is the key to solving the mystery, but, what fun would that be for all those who love a good mystery and think themselves capable of spotting the clues early on. Moreover, as I skipped kindergarten (and a few other grades), I never learned to share properly. LOL! The whole “solving the mystery thing” revolves around one key clue all the characters miss. Hopefully, you will you be wiser than they are. Continue reading →

Posted in Austen Authors, book excerpts, book release, British history, excerpt, George Wickham, Georgian England, Georgian Era, heroines, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, legends, legends and myths, marriage, mystery, paranormal, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, reading habits, Regency era, royalty, spooky tales, suspense, tall tales, Ulysses Press, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Celebrating the Release of “Regency Summer Scandals” Anthology + a Giveaway

Posted on June 28, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

In my latest tale, Loving Lord Lindmore, my heroine has some hoydenish tendencies, for the stories in the A Regency Summer Scandal Anthology, are all about scandals and who commits them. Lady Cora has been taught to use a knife … Continue reading →

Posted in anthology, book release, British history, Dreamstone Publishing, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, history, Living in the Regency, medieval, publishing, Regency era, Regency romance, research, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Honourable East India Company + the Release of “The Earl’s English Rose” + a Giveaway

Posted on June 21, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

The vast majority of men who went into East India Company employment had some family/friend connection who assisted them to become established. Such is why we often read how the hero has a distant relative who is a Director of the East India Company and assists him to earn a position with the firm. Alternatively, the hero of one’s tale could have been in military service; by the Regency era, the East India Company had its own private army and navy in India, with English officers and mostly Indian ‘sepoys’ (privates).

The man might be required to work in London for several years, likely something to do with their warehouses – as a writer or secretary or clerk, perhaps. Or he could work directly for East India House, possibly as a secretary to one of the directors. I found one mention (in The East India Company’s London Workers) of a minor aristocrat working as a warehouse laborer, although this would be very very uncommon (and probably unbefitting of a romance novel hero). Continue reading →

Posted in book excerpts, book release, British history, eBooks, excerpt, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, publishing, Regency era, Regency romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Happy 4th Book Birthday to “Letters from Home”!!!

Posted on June 19, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

I particularly loved this story for I am a military brat and wife, and I adore a strong military hero. Major Lord Simon Lanford is just such a man. He is the “spare” in the Regency adage of “an heir … Continue reading →

Posted in book excerpts, book release, British history, eBooks, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, Living in the Regency, marriage, military, primogenture, publishing, reading habits, Regency romance, romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments